Loose-leaf binder.



L. M. MORDEN.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLICATION FILED APB. 2a. 1911.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

Wi/kwamen y S wus. wlof,

J0 WW T31 71Prl Hoz nuceza 272 worden 5% E. Kaff J n UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

LUCENA IVI. MOR/DEN, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

LOGSE-LEAF BINDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUCENA M. MonnnN. a citizen of the United States,residing at Waterbury, in the coui'ity of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLoose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders,.the object of theinvention being to provide an improved binder of the class describedhaving a plurality lof sets of openable prongs or rings, all of whichmay be simultaneously opened or closed by the shifting lof such prongsor rings toward or from each other, While either or all of the sets maybe shifted independently relatively to the supporting member' carryingthe same, where-by a much more practicable device of this character isprovided than heretofore, and which advantageous features are obtainedin an extremely simple and inexpensive manner without sacrificing' thedurability, strength and practicability of the structure, and in whichthe prongs are, in

' the embodiment shown, carried by suitable base plates either directlyinterlocked with each other or connected through the medium of alongitudinally extending memberv or members, which also forms the meansfor connecting the several sets of prongs together to permit them to besimultaneously opened or closed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specitication,Figure 1 illustrates a perspective View of one form of this improvement;Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate details thereof; Fig. l is a cross-sectionalview thereof; Fig. 5 illustrates a somewhat different embodiment of thesame improvement; Fig. 6 is an end view thereof; Fig. 7 illustrates adetail thereof; Fig. 8 is a perspective vievvl illustrating a stillditi'erent embodiment of t-he same improvement; Fig. 9 is an end Viewthereof; Fig. l0 is a perspective vien7 illustrating another embodiment0f the same improvement; and Fig. 11 is an end View thereof.

Similar characters of reference indicate correspon'ding parts in thedifferent figures of the drawings.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 28, 1911.

Patented Dec. 31,1912.

seriai No. 623,813.

The ring supporting member in the present instance, in all the forms ofthe present improvement shown herein, comprises what may be considered aback member consisting of a concave formedcasing 2 having a pair ofinturned longitudinally extending flanges or edges 3fA and et, althoughit is to be under-I stood that this casing or supporting menibei' may be inclosed in a separate back inember which may be more readily attachedin some instances to the covers if preferred. Each setof prongs 5comprises a pair o1 similarly formed members, except that the prongshave the mating ends thereof formed one with a notch While the other isformed to extend into such notch, although other forms of mating endscould be used if desired. Eachl set of prongs will be provided with atop or cover member 6 adapted to overlap the supporting member andinclose the base members and prongs, this cover member being providedwith/'a pair of reeesses or noto es to permit the opening and closingmovement of the prongs.

In the form slioivn'in Figs. l to 4 each prong is provided with a baseplate 7, one of which is provided with oppositely extending projectionsorvtongues 8 and 9, thus forming a notch for the reception of acentrally l0- cated member shown in the present instance as a bar 10bent upon itself to form a groove 11, into which the edge of the baseplate of the opposite prong fits, such edge-thus forming a seat for thegroove or slot 11, from which it Will be. observed that in this form oneof the base plates, byl reason of its projections, overlaps such barwhile the other base plate projects thereinto, the outer edges of eachbase plate being received under the inturned flange of the supportingeasing. and therefore these base plates constitute the means, togetherwith the back member. for giving the desired spring action to the prongsso that they will properly close and v be held closed, or be held openwhen openech.

The bar 10 thus connects all of the sets of prongs together so thatmanipulating any one'of the sets all ofjsuch sets will be simultaneouslyopened or closed in a manner which ivill be readily understood. ivhileatthe saine time any one of the sets may be .pron

' shifted-r adjustedl lengthwise of the supporting 'member toward orfrom a 'companionset of prongs"orfrings. Itwill also be observed thatboth prongs of eachset '5 open substantially equally, so that a greaternumber of sheets may be inserted than -when" only one is opened whilethe otherremains.-

. 'theinturned fiangecf the casing support in' the 'manner hereinjbeoredescribed, .but the .connecting bar 15 .'o.r the several sets .ofi 's`.extends: through .openings 16 formed by Pr-Oi fjfthebase 'plates oi`eachjsetf of prongs, :While the two base plates A areninterconnectedbyforming the opposed edges, theref, with recessesv 17' andprojections-18,. vso that o-n fopemng or closing anyl one' o y' the setsof. prongs all' of the prongs are simultaneously openedor.c'losed,.w`hile of prongs may be shifted or adjusted 'length- .Wiseof Vthe supporting-j member' toward' for -from a-companionfset.orfsets'thereolf 'fthe embodiment', shown infl-Figsg and the basev.plates or membersfof each. set] of prongs are.` receivedv'inlng'itudinally ein.l

' tendine 'grooves 1 0r.. .esses '19f lengthwise' extendin'gbars- QO an.21,Whichf bars. turn .are interconnected: a' series'- offrecesses 22'and projections '2 3. In this4 -riding bars,butalso-bythe flanges of theA-casing support, and whereby alsoA .the-de- '.sired spring action is'.imparted from the. Y back Vor supporting member to. theprongs.

showna'sisomewhat curved so that the upper sides .:ther'ecf areoffconvex formation, have their 'meeting faces interlocked byfproje i50tions 27. and recessesf 28, the proj ections of each baseplate,

oo ve 29 located" at the inne'redge .of a lon# gitudin'alflyl extendingbar two of which, as `30 andrfl, are shown", although.. obviously..lthis' could be 'reversed and z. they grooveformed-.inthe inner edgeofTeach base plate edge'of each" base plate is providcdiwith--a-- 32 .intowhich the inner edge'f ofi theH ward andV from each other, and that onopening or closing of' one set, by. reasonfo'f vthe longitudinallyeX'tending bar. or bars, a'll "i of the "prongs of lthecompanion setsare' and that yone or all of -be shifted orfad-` theibase plates oftheprongsproject under 'the setsf'of prongs may ecting orbulgingthe 'metalof one however, tting into. a1

*the `prongs the: simplest and least expensive, since -itdoesnnotrequire the 4flange to be of any con.-

In.- all.v of these. Jforms of the improvement prongs of each set havingla'mo'vement 'tothe opened or. closed also,

just-ed independently ofthe companion sets o f prongs so as tivelyto--t'he openings lin the'sheets should ,the distance betweenlthe's'amev'ary, as they Vitvvill be observed that both prongs of each--set areopened or closed sim'ultaneously,thel

tol properly locate them relafrequently do, 4and also tofpermit theuse.

of-shorter'orflonger' leaves as occasion may require.'

From the foregoing it will be' observed that inj s'o-me base plateslarefdirectly' vinterlo'ckedV and so- 'form a toggle joint between theprongs, whilein othery forms off-the improvement the base plates arespaced apart, theV toggle "connection being formed by a longitudinallyforms ot"l the improvement the extending. vbar or bars constituting thee011-, necting and' lguiding means betweenthe sevthat the several setsof prongs are guidedy by the intu'rned- .edges ,or .ianges'of thetudina-lly. extending member or'bar or bars,

back and also by a'longigandin 'the present' improvement the prongs areshown of arch' formation-.and preferably rcs ir'rie'd-by suitably formed.base *plates locked.

Of course it will be unders various detailsmay -be more or withoutdeparting fromv the scope'or spirit .of the present' improvement. For'instance,l .therings or prongs' may be preferred-in practice, While thebars in some' wire. and .the grooves tood' that the less modified "entkindsof. stock,' that is, they may "be flat formatie-n as may bevIclaim-as.my inventions-y.

movement length-f both 'open-able' and "losable simultaneously,

isc

which mayor may not be directly inter- `105 formsofthe-improvement'maybemade-of 115' formed; in the base- 'ofinstead. of''in-fthe. bars, ais. -here' 'inbeforestated, all .of which, liowevei,-is within "the purview of .my .imprcvement,"'as well as any otherdetailsandfcha'nges inl-cons struction which' maybe feu-nd desirable l 11.practice' in :order to lessen the expense lor..

*f supporting means, each of said prongs havsaid rings for shift-ablemovement lengt-h-v wise of suoli supporting means, means for connectingthe several sets of prongs whereby on the opening or closing of any oneof the sets all of the sets will be simultaneouslyopened or closed, anda top plate shiftable with each set of prongs.

3. A loose leaf binder comprising a pluralit-y of sets of leaf receivingrings, each set comprising a pair of movable prongs both openable andclosable simultaneously, means for supporting said rings for shift-`able movement lengthwise of such supporting means, and means forinter-connecting the sets whereby on the opening or closing of vany oneof the sets all of the sets will be simultaneously opened or closed.

4. A loose leaf binder comprising a plurality of sets of leaf receivingrings, each set comprisinga pair of movable prongs both openable andclosable simultaneously, means for supporting said rings for shiftablemovement lengthwise of suoli supporting means, means for vconnecting theprongs whereby on theopening or closing of any one of the sets all ofthe sets will be siniultaneously opened or closed, and a slotted topplate shiftable with each set of prongs.

5. A loose leaf binder comprising a plurality of sets of leaf receivingringsfeach set comprising a pair of movable prongs both openable andclosable simultaneously, .enea-ns for supporting thetscts of rings somefor shiftable movement. lengt-hwise of such supporting means, andlengthwise extending meansl for connecting the lseveral sets of prongswhereby on the opening or closing of any one of the sets all of the setswill be simultaneously opened or closed.

v6. A loose leaf binder comprising a plurality. of sets of leafreceiving rings, each set comprising a pair of movable prongs 'bothopenable and closable simultaneously,l means for supporting the sets ofrings some for shiftable movement lengthwise of such ing a base plateand said-prongs having connecting means therebetween whereby on the'opening or closing of any one of the sets all 4of the sets will besimultaneously'opened o1' closed,

' 7. Arloose leaf binder comprising a plurality of sets of leafreceiving rings, each set comprising a pair movable prongs bothopeiiable and closable siniultaneously,

'comprising a plu-` ing atoggle connection therebetween, and

means for connecting the several sets of prongs whereby on the openingor closing o f any one of the sets all of the sets will besimultaneously opened or closed.

8. A loose leaf binder comprising a plurality of sets of leaf receivingrings, each set comprising a pair of movable prongs both opeiiable andclosable simultaneously, means for supporting said prongs for shiftablemovement lengthwise of such supporting means, each of said sets ofprongs havingl interlockedbase plates, and means cooperating with thebase plates for connecting the several, sets of prongs whereby on theopening or closinv of any one of the sets all ofthe sets will besimultaneously opened or-elosed.

9. A loose leaf binder comprising a plurality ofsets of leaf receivingrings, each set comprising a pair of movable prongs both openable andclosable simultaneously, means for supporting said prongs for shiftablemovement lengthwise of such supporting means, each of said sets ofprongs having inteiflocked base plates, and means coperating with thebase plates for connecting the several set's of prongs whereby on theopening or closing of any one of the sets all of the sets will besimultaneously opened or closed, said means comprising a pair oflengthwise extending members. l

10. A loose leaf binder comprising a plurality of sets of leaf receivingrings, each set comprising a pair of movable prongs both openable andclosable simultaneously, means for supporting said prongs for shiftablemovement; lengthwise of such supporting means, each of said sets ofprongs having interloeked hase plates, and means cooperating with tlrebase plates and with the sui'iporting means for connecting the severalsets of prongs whereby on thel opening or 'closing of any one of thesets all of the sets will be simultaneously opened or closed, said meanscomprising a pair of lengthwise eX- teiiding members.

1l. A loose leaf binder comprising a plurality of sets of leaf receivingrings, each set comi'irising a pair of movable prongs both openable andclosable simultaneously, a back member having inturned flanges forsupporting said prongs for shiftable movement lengthwise thereof, eachset of said prongs having base plates coperating with said inturnedflanges, and ,lengthwise extending members carried by said back member'and cooperating with said base plates and connecting theV several setsof prongs together whereby on the opening or closing of' any of the setsall of the sets will be simultaneously opened-or closed.

' bj-,f' site opening-on "22 .the all ofthe sets located under thebermaaarset comprising a. both openable'and-- ifapair 12. A loose leafbinder" comprising a plu-- f 'rality of sets of leaf receiving rings,each set comprising a. pair of movable are prongsshaped both openable'andclosable-,simulta neously, a back member; fhavngfa-pir voflongitudinally extending-in naviga par of base member, said-baseplatesvb'eing of*longilitrdrnallyl entendis-mg' connecting-the-fseveral-sets-of b-simultaneo@ 5'- opened v r closed,saidlongitudinally exten members -havingftheirouter flanges of vthebackmein-f 13,' A; loose leaf binder comprising a'plu'-,l vralit'y of setsaof leaf receiving' rings,- eac pair of movable# prongs I `olosablesimultaneously, 1

means'for4 supporting said prongs for shiftfable lmovement lengthwise of'such-support-v lurali'ty'oflongitudinally vextending members`connecting the several f sets'of prongs 'whereby on the opening or"closing of any one' of comprising a openable and clo'sable yforsupporting said prongs means, and longitudinally extending means i.rality the sets all of the sets will be simultaneously'openedor closed.14. A loose lea'f binder comprisingafpluralityrof sets of leaf receivingrings, veach set pair of movable prongs bothsimultaneously, means lforshiftablemovement Vlengthwise j of such supportingsets of vprongs where.closing fof-any one ofthesets all of the sets will be simultaneously.opened or closed, said longitudinally extending meanseonstructed toreceive parts ,of said'p-rongs.

15. A loose leaf binder comprising a pluof sets, of leafreceivingrings,each pair ofmovable prongs4 elosable simultaneously',

connecting the several set comprising a., both openalole and each' pronghaving. a supporting said prongs for shiftable movement lengthwise-ofsuch supporting means,

fbe simultaneously opened or closed.` 55

ralityfof'sets of leaf ogmprising a pair .ofv

and means connecting the base plates ofthe several sets of prongs alongad] acentparts opening Aor closing 4thereof 'whereby on the alll 'of`the sets vwill 'y of anyone of. the sets 16. A loose leaf' bindercomprising"a'pl-ureo'eiving rings, each set movable prongs both openableand .closable simultaneo'usly,'v each 'i v,prong having. a base plate,means for sup- .60

vlengtliwise of 4suoli for s hiftablev movement L portingsaid Vprongssupporting vmeans and -i'- comprisinga baokmemberfhavmg inturned.a-1126s,. vof the Yseveral sets' of prongs along ad3acent and meansconnecting the base plates innerl edges'in engagender'1t- ,vwlthpartsjof saidxbaseplates.

means coperating base plate, means for series of binding'loops mi @on-17. A loose lea-f binder comprising a pluralityofsets of leafreceivingrings, eachset comprising a pain. of-movable' prongs lboth imprenableand 'closable simultaneously, each giprweihvms base :plates meansforsup` said prongs for shiftable movement ofsuoh supporting means, and`means `connecting several sets 'of prongs' Ithereof. whereby of anyI.oneA fthe sets Aall `of the sets will be isam'ultaneouslyj.,-opeliedvor closed, and com ing means 'coperating with the prongs.

' 18. A .loose-leaf binder comprising a pluset comprising-a pairofmovable prongs 'both openable fand :closable simultaneously, `means'for"supporting said prongs for-shift- `ing means, and 'means forconnecting -the several sets of prongs whereby;` ontheopening or closingof any [the sets .will be simultaneously opened or closed', and-comprising longitudinally 'eX-.- tending means having guiding means forthe prongs, 'each ofl said prongs having a base plate cooperating withsaid guiding means.- '19'. A loose i rality 'of sets ofleaf receiving.rings, each .bot-h. opena-ble and elosable simultaneously, means forsupporting saidprongs. for shiftable movement lengthwise ofsuchsupporting means,-and means feral sets' ofjprongs whereby on the openlngor closing `:of any one of the sets all 'of the. sets will besimultaneouslyopened or closed, and comprising longii'lidinallyextending wit prongs being oper' vted through .the medium 'of'a toggle'connection, Y.

20. In a loose leaf .binder the'. combination with a seriesI ofseparablebinding loops or.'

away.' from lone another,- of meansl coper- A ating with said vbindingloopslwhereby the latter are-simultaneously opened'or. closedl" 21.y Ina loose leaf'binder-a base.plate,ia

plate,- and away from one f'anotlierand means'cooperating withsaidloop'sffor simultaneously opening or closing the same.v 22. In aloosele'afbinder, the combination of a 4back plate, a plurality of pairslofpiv- .otal l y; supported arms carried 'by .said vplateI pairjhavin'g. a notch andthe-` other having la seat, and means locatedtoengagesald of leafreoeiving rings, leach simultaneously opened orclosed, and comprising longitudinally extending means.

the` base plates ofthe alongjadjacent parts n theopening or closing'prising longitudinally extending means havable movement lengthwise ofsuch supportoneof the; sets all of leaf binder comprising a plusetcomprising a pair of-.movable "prongs y conneoting the sevthe prongs,saidl rings which are -fadjustable- .towardand -or rings -on saidg-base`4which loops are." adjustable v'towardand'unitingtol formrings, one armof each notches and seats for simultaneously opennotches and seats forsimultaneously opening' and closing' the arms. ingr .and closingr thearms. n

Q25. In a loose leaf binder, the combination Signed at Waterbury,Connect1cut, thls of a back plate, a plurality of pairs of pivot- 26thday of April, 1911.

ally supported arms carried by said plate LUCENA M MORDEN and uniting toform rings, said pairs adjust able toward and from each other, one armof Witnesses:

each pair having a notch and the other hav- M, MAKEPEAGE. Y ing` a seat,and means located to engage said FREDERIC C. EARLE.

